Team Zimbabwe notched up their 12th medal at the ongoing 10th All-Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique, after visually impaired athlete, Nyaradzo Tagarira, won a silver medal in the in the 100m (T13 category) on Monday.
Tagarira, who is a Form Four student at Mamunyatsa Secondary School in Buhera, came second in a time of 13,40secs behind Ugandan Sandra Akulio who romped to victory in a time of 13,24secs.
Algerian Hamry Linda won the bronze medal after finishing in third position in a time of 13,42secs.
Tagarira has been a consistent performer for Zimbabwe in previous competitions as she won three gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 400m at the fourth Zone VI Youth Games in Swaziland in December last year.
The visually impaired athletes form a key component of Team Zimbabwe at the games and proved so as they picked up the country’s first medal away from the swimming pool.
Before Tagarira’s silver medal the other four gold medals, six silver medals and one bronze had come from the women’s swimming team inspired by Olympic champion Kirsty Coventry.
The latest silver medal was also yet another one by female Zimbabwean athlete while male counterparts continue to find the going tough.
It was, however, not all rosy for other athletes with disabilities as veteran wheelchair racer Elford Moyo finished in eighth position in the 1 500m while Kudakwashe Hove finished in eighth position in the 800m (T-46) category.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
The country’s number one female wheelchair racer Magret Bangajena also came close to claiming a medal after finishing in sixth position over the same distance.
Athletics
There was no good news from the track and field events for the able bodied athletes as the three sprinters who were in action all failed to reach the final.
Young sprinter Tinashe Mutanga crashed out in the semi-finals of the 100m after finishing a disappointing seventh in a time of 10, 62 seconds.
Francis Zimwara also failed to progress from the other semifinal heat where he also finished in seventh position in a time of 10, 50 secs.
Tennis
United States-based Takanyi Garanganga stormed into the quarter-finals at the Tondouri Jardin Clay Courts. He had a bye in the first round before beating an Angolan opponent 6-4, 6-2 in straight sets.
In the third round Garanganga dispatched Jean Lolo from Togo 6-4, 7-5 to book a place in the last eight and is expected to launch his bid for a semi-final place on Wednesday.
Female tennis player Pauline Chawafambira was knocked out in the fourth round 6-2, 6-0 by an Egyptian opponent.Valeria Bhunu had a walkover to the third round before losing 6-2, 6-3 to an Algerian opponent in the third round.
Netball
The women’s netball team, still in the running for a medal at the games where they are playing in a round-robin format, suffered a setback after losing 51-39 to Zambia.
The Zimbabwean ladies had got their campaign off to a good after thrashing hosts Mozambique 69-3 before following up with a narrow 30-29 over South Africa.
